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pilates

For several years after having my two oldest children, I dealt with persistent chronic lower back pain and SI joint dysfunction that would sometimes completely stop me in my tracks, and hips that always felt out of whack. Maybe it was from carrying my kids around on my left hip all the time (while simultaneously doing everyday tasks like making meals, carrying laundry or groceries, talking on the phone, emptying the dishwasher, etc.)… Maybe it was just from bad postural habits that took their toll over time.

Whatever the cause, it wasn’t good and it wasn’t heading me in the direction I wanted to be headed in.

I wasn’t mindful at all about how I moved and I didn’t have the self awareness – or the perspective – that I do now.

It was during one of my particularly tough back spasms that my sister Jodi (an awesome runner, coach, Pilates guru and owner of my favorite studio, Reston Pilates) encouraged me to try Pilates. It had helped her tremendously after her back surgery (so much so that despite doctors telling her she would likely never run again, she has since run multiple marathons and ultras!) and she believed it would help me, too. She began to teach me and it didn’t take long for me to begin to realize the amazing benefits. Not long after that I began pursuing a teaching education in Pilates so that I could help others heal and live pain free through this wonderful movement system.

Pilates literally changed my life. It helped me connect with and develop an inner strength that had in fact always been there. I became intentional with how I moved my body and with how I stood, cultivating better habits and healthier movement patterns. With a dedication to regular Pilates and mindful movement, I discovered that I am so much stronger than I ever thought possible.

As my running and training picked up in intensity over the years, I remained dedicated to a regular Pilates practice. My muscles and joints were able to keep up with the demands that running was putting on them – sometimes as many as 100 miles in a week on the pavement – and I truly believe that this was in large part because of the commitment I had made to doing Pilates.

Here are my top 5 favorite things about Pilates, and why I think every runner should dedicate time to it every week:

Injury Prevention: Pilates is very similar to physical therapy – training proper and efficient movement patterns, encouraging healthy neuromuscular pathways, “waking up” muscles that aren’t getting with the program and doing their job – essentially teaching our bodies optimal ways of moving. The exercises will make you aware of your particular imbalances and give you an opportunity to correct them before you get injured because of them.

Two-for-one: Many runners have limited flexibility and mobility, particularly in the hips, ankles and in the rotation of the trunk. We need to work on stretching our muscles and mobilizing our joints so that we have more power when we move and reduce the risk of injury. We also need to dedicate time to our strength work, using muscles that support our running and balance our bodies. One of the most magical things about Pilates is that while it is strengthening you, it is also stretching you! So it’s gentle enough to do every day (unlike other types of strength work where you really need to recover from delayed onset muscle soreness) and gives you the stretching you need so desperately.

No more lazy butts: One of the most common issues runners face is that we just aren’t activating our glutes the way we should! Tight hip flexors are common in runners, and when this happens it stretches out our glutes and then makes them less likely to fire how they are designed to. This is made even worse if you sit at a desk for your job all day – shortening your hip flexors and stretching your glutes even more. Our gluteal muscles are the most powerful muscles in our bodies and they aren’t made for just sitting on, though that is what we use them for most of the time. Once you start using your booty in your running, you will not only find that you are MUCH more powerful and faster, but will also discover that your hips and back will feel a whole lot better. Pilates is an amazing way to start working your glutes properly – many of the exercises open the hips and let the booty do what nature intended for it to!

Mindfulness: Pilates is a system of exercises that engages the body, the breath and the mind. It teaches us to be self aware and to listen to our bodies, and helps us be more present and able to concentrate on the moment. I take my Pilates practice with me into my running. In the later stages of a long run or a marathon when I feel my posture falling apart, I remember to lift up through my center and breathe. It keeps me calm and connected to my center so I can focus on the task at hand.

It’s always there for you: Pilates is something we can do no matter where we are in our running journey – and this is perhaps my favorite thing about it especially at the moment! If you are injured, Pilates is very therapeutic for that. If you are pounding the pavement more than ever and chasing a huge personal best, Pilates will help keep you healthy and connected to yourself. If you are returning from pregnancy or a lay off due to injury, Pilates is fantastic for waking up and nurturing your body. There’s never a bad time to do it, and it’s never too late to start!

A regular Pilates practice teaches you about yourself, and inspires you to believe in yourself. I can’t tell you how many of my students have been amazed by the discoveries they have made about themselves in their lessons – they are so much stronger than they thought they were or than they ever gave themselves credit for. I think we all spend a lot of time criticizing and trying to “fix” our bodies for how they look on the outside, and we don’t necessarily believe it’s possible that there is so much awesomeness waiting to be discovered on the inside. We could all use a little more of that in our lives, right?

I am a comprehensively trained Peak Pilates instructor and have taught in both group and private settings. I implement my knowledge expertise into my running coaching – helping my athletes understand how to move better and strengthen their core and stabilizing muscles through this incredibly powerful system of movement.

Here are some things that my clients are saying about practicing Pilates and what it does for them!

“After the birth of my first child I was in extreme pain. My hips and lower back were so weak and out of place that the pain made it difficult to preform every day tasks. This was devastating as I was a very active person. I went to multiple doctors, acupuncture, massage, yoga, PT; you name it. This went on for almost 2 years. Nothing seemed to work. Pilates was my last shot. I started working with Jess twice a week. The results are amazing. Not just my core, but my entire body has gotten stronger. The pain has significantly diminished as I continue to work with Jess.

I am now currently 6 months pregnant with my second child; and have continued Pilates twice a week and plan to go as long as I can up until the birth. Pilates has very much helped with lower back and hip pain during pregnancy. I can definitely feel it in my body when I have missed a session with Jess. I also notice that my performance in other physical activities I enjoy has improved due to Pilates.

I highly recommend Jess!”

– Kendra

“I’ve been doing Pilates for over a year now and Jessica is by far the best instructor I’ve had. She’s thorough and fantastic at explaining and helping you with correct form. As a student, I really feel, and appreciate that, she actually cares about my health and progress.”
-Amanda

“I found out that I had lung and joint disease a little over a year ago and was very sick. After lung surgery I was very weak and my doctor suggested Pilates. I have been taking Pilates classes for about a year; my strength and stability have increased greatly. I am not always happy about doing Pilates, but I am very happy about the results.”
–Susanne